Adapting to Climate Risk? Local Population Dynamics in the United States

Agustín Indaco and Francesc Ortega

No 15982, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Using a new composite climate-risk index, we show that population in high-risk counties has grown disproportionately over the last few decades, even relative to the corresponding commuting zone. We also find that the agglomeration is largely driven by increases in the (white) working-age population. In addition, we show that high-risk tracts have typically grown more than low-risk tracts within the same county, suggesting the presence of highly localized amenities in high-risk areas. We also document heterogeneous population dynamics along a number of dimensions. Specifically, population has been retreating from high-risk, low urbanization locations, but continues to grow in high-risk areas with high residential capital. The findings above hold for most climate hazards. However, we document that tracts with high risk of coastal flooding have grown significantly less than other tracts in the same county.

Keywords: agglomeration; climate risk; migration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J3 J7 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 58 pages
Date: 2023-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env, nep-geo, nep-mig, nep-res and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published - published in: Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, 2024, 8, 61–106

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Related works:
Journal Article: Adapting to Climate Risk? Local Population Dynamics in the United States (2024)
Working Paper: Adapting to Climate Risk? Local Population Dynamics in the United States (2023)
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